Photographic recording and reproduction apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the recording and reproduction of an image by zonal reduction. For recording an image, the image is segmented into a plurality of zones, each of which is photographically reduced and recorded, the recording being effected in a grid-like arrangement of reduced recording zones. This reduction is effected by the use of a plurality of lens elements constituted by a masked arrangement of two perpendicularly related lenticular screens. Recording is effected on a photographic film which is supported by an arrangement capable of displacing the same along multiple coordinates so that a plurality of images can be sequentially recorded as a plurality of interspersed grid-like arrangements of small areas. Reproduction is effected by projecting the resulting product through the same arrangement of lens elements as is employed in obtaining exposures which result in the product. The product is a light-permeable or transparent film on which the aforesaid grid-like arrangements are photographically produced.

United States Patent [151 3,696,722 Lysle et al. [451 Oct. 10, 1972 [54] PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING AND Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews REPRODUCTION APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Gordon Lysle, Greenlawn; Ronald Bonagura, East Meadow, both of NY.

[73] Assignee: Photosystems Corporation, Plainview, NY.

[22] Filed: Oct. 6, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 870,471

[52] Cl. ..95/18 R, 95/37 [51] Int. Cl. ..G03b 35/08 [58] Field of Search ..95/18 R, 18 P, 37

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,387,547 6/1968 l-loughton ..95/18 X 2,596,740 5/1952 Tuttle et a1. ..95/18 2,833,176 5/1958 Ossoinak ..95/18 X 2,950,644 8/ 1960 Land et al ..95/18 3,142,235 7/1964 Siegmund ..95/18 X 3,267,826 8/ 1966 Browning ..95/18 3,503,315 3/1970 Montebello ..95/18 Assistant Examiner-Fred L. Braun Attorney-Posnack, Roberts & Cohen [5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for the recording and reproduction of an image by zonal reduction. For recording an image, the image is segmented into a plurality of zones, each of which is photographically reduced and recorded, the recording being effected in a grid-like arrangement of reduced recording zones. This reduction is effected by the use of a plurality of lens elements constituted by a 12 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDum 10 I972 sum 2 0F 8 Er lmmnn- EIDDDDEIDDC. QUEBEC-- .DDEIDIT'-- FIG. 5

I INVENTORS GORDON LYSLE FIG. 7

RONALD BONAGURA ATTORNEYS PATENTEDnm 10 I972 SHEET 3 [1F 8 INVENTORS GORDON LYSLE RONALD BONAGURA ATTORNEYS PATENTEDIJBI 10 I972 SHEET l- [IF 8 INVENTORS GORDON LYSLE RONALD BONAGURA m m M ATTORNEYS PATENTEnnmm r972 3.696.722

SHEET 5 OF 8 Q Mm ll F DE ATTORNEYS SHEET 6 [IF 8 P'ATE'N'TEnnm 10 1922 FIG. I5

INVENTORS GORDON LYSLE RONALD BONAGURA BY ATTORNEYS PATENTEnucr 10 I972 SHEEI'IUF8' IGO FIG.

FIG.

FIG.

' INVENTORS GORDON LYSLE RONALD BONAGURA BY III FIG. l9

PATENTEDnm 10 I912 3 696, 722

SHEET 8 UP 8 F I G 2O FlG.2l(b) F I G 2| (C) GORDON LYsLE d M RONALD BONAGURA DDDDD) PI-IOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING AND REPRODUCTION APPARATUS FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates generally to combination recording and display devices and more particularly to recording and display devices in which documents and the like are photographically reduced and recorded so that storage can be effected in relatively small record units.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Many microfilming devices are known in which microfilm records are produced of documents, pictures, charts, and so forth, there being a substantial size reduction in the photographic record produced compared with the size of the original document which is to be recorded. This type of apparatus has proven commercially valuable and has found substantial use due to the fact that the storage of data is greatly facilitated.

One disadvantage of equipment heretofore available is that in order to provide for substantial reduction of the image to be recorded the apparatus must be of such a size as to provide the required photographic reduction and this has resulted in devices which are of substantial height and which are therefore cumbersome. This limits the use of such apparatus and in certain instances can even prevent the use of this type of apparatus where the space is not sufficient for accommodating the same.

Generally, a further disadvantage of known devices is that they require separate optical systems for recording and reproduction respectively and relatively long retrieval time for access to a particular recording.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide an improved and compact combined recording and display apparatus which conveniently provides for recording and reproducing a multitude of images.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus and technique for conveniently recording a multitude of images on a small recording unit in a unique and useful manner.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus and methods for making possible large format displays while maintaining short object-toimage distances.

Still further objects of the invention are to provide for a large storage capacity with a relatively small recording unit and to provide for a relatively rapid access requiring a very small mechanical motion.

To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, there is provided an apparatus and method by means of which an image of a document, graph, chart, or the like, is optically reproduced as a plurality of zones, each constituting a part of the image and adapted for cooperatively reconstituting the image, each such zone being reduced in size from the corresponding part of the image, there being further provided means for enabling the recording of such Zones so that a permanent record is obtained. Moreover, there is provided a projection means for optically projecting the said record through the equipment utilized to reduce the first said image in the original size thereof.

The equipment for reducing and reproducing the image is preferably, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, formed of two parallel lenticular screens including respective pluralities of cylindrical lenses which are perpendicularly related to form a plurality of lens elements. A mask is employed to conceal a major portion of the elements and to leave unmasked a gridlike pattern of these elements in correspondence with the aforesaid zones.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, there is provided a photographic film support and positioning means to displace this support in perpendicularly related directions for exposing different portions of the film for successive images. Moreover, the positioning means can, in accordance with the invention, be rotatably adjusted to provide a further degree of control in the reconstituting of the original images.

A shutter arrangement is provided in accordance with the invention which simultaneously and selectively exposes or caps the aforesaid lens elements and this shutter is preferably controlled by a solenoid which concomitantly controls a light source which illuminates the original image when the same is to be photographically reproduced in reduced size.

As a further feature of the invention, there is a particular lens arrangement involving the aforesaid lenticular screens in which one mask is sandwiched between the two said screens in an assembly which is contained between two further masks, the three said masks being provided with positionally corresponding and regularly spaced apertures correspond to the aforesaid zones, the apertures of one of these masks corresponding in shape to the desired shape of said zones and being also provided with an outer surface so adapted that photographic film and particularly the emulsion thereof can be accommodated against this surface.

In accordance with still a further feature of the invention, use is made of fiber objects to conduct light for projection purposes to the lens elements noted above.

There results from the apparatus and techniques of the invention a novel and useful photographic record in the form of a transparent film having thereon a plurality of grid-like dispersions of very small zones, each grid-like arrangement being selectably projectable for purposes of reconstituting the associated image. Large numbers of interspersed images can be readily recorded and reproduced and although preferably 200 to 2,000 of such images can be interspersed, this can be increased to a range of from 2 to 10,000 images and even more depending upon the desired size of the related apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the division of an image into a plurality of zones;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of how the zones of FIG. 1 are reproduced and of the photographic dimensions related to such reproductions;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a recording unit upon which one plurality of zones constituting one image has been reproduced;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3,illustrating the reproduction of two images;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of the recording unit of FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrating the reproduction of a multitude of images;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the relationship of an image and the associated recording unit;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an apparatus of a compact recording and display unit in which the techniques illustrated in FIGS. l-6 can be employed;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view through the apparatus of FIG. 7 illustrating various of the components thereof;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line IX-IX of FIG. 8 illustrating the mechanism by means of which adjustments can be made with respect to the recording unit.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view along line X-X of FIG. 8 illustrating particularly a light source and cooling unit employed in the apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view along line XI-XI of FIG. 8 illustrating particularly the recording unit supporting and adjusting mechanism;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view along line XII-XII of FIG. 8 illustrating additional details of the unit of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a top plan view of the shutter mechanism employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 7-12;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of part of the light source used in the apparatus of FIGS. 7-12;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of one of the record unit positioning elements employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 7-12;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the lens arrangement employed in the aforegoing apparatus;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view illustrating the lens elements and masks employed in the lens arrangement of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a side view, partially broken away, illustrating the construction of the lens arrangement;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of a masking element employed in the aforegoing apparatus;

FIG. 20 diagrammatically illustrates a modification of the recording and reproducing system of the invention; and

- FIGS. 21(a) (c) illustrate other geometric forms for recording.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A combined recording and display unit of the invention may, for example, have a display screen size of 8 X 10 inches. The unit itself may have a height of 12 inches with a width of 10 inches and a depth of 3 inches. The resolution of the reconstructed image on the screen may be, for example, ten lines per millimeter and in each record there may be stored, for example, a total of 400images. In fact, as will be seen hereinafter, a far greater number of images can be stored. as desired or, on the other hand, the number of images may be decreased.

The aforesaid record, with is mentioned by way of example and not limitation, can record or reproduce 400 8 X 10 inch pictures of documents, graphs, charts, photographs, paintings, data cards, and other two or three dimensional objects. A single 8 X 10 inch plate contains all 400 pictures and can be replaced with another plate or record to display or record additional images. Theoretically, the display format size is unlimited and can be arranged to accommodate images of much greater size than has been indicated.

FIG. 1 illustrates a single image 20 constituted, for example, by a document, letter, photograph, painting, data display, or any arrangement of intelligence capable of being photographically reproduced. The image is shown as being divided into a plurality of zones Al, A2, A3, A4 An. For purposes of delineating these zones, a plurality of lines 22 arranged in intersecting relationship are employed. These lines are imaginary only and do not constitute a part of the image.

If each of the aforesaid zones is considered as a separate image entity, it will be ready understood that each such zone can be photographically reproduced and reduced by an associated lens properly positioned and preferably centrally located with each of the zones of the image. Such lenses are indicated at 24, there being one such lens for each of the aforesaid zones, each lens being geometrically centered in the corresponding zone.

FIG. 2 illustrates the well known photographic and reduction process by means of which the image of subject or object 20 is recorded on a record 26 by means of the lenses 24. The record or the appropriate surface thereof is located in the focal plane of the lens 24 and the plane of the image 20 is the object plane. The distance from lens 24 to the object plane is designated as S1, and the distance of the lens 24 from the focal plane is designated as S2. It will be appreciated that the total distance constituted by the sum of S1 and S2 will control the height of the recording and reproduction unit which is constructed to perform the functions to be enumerated hereinafter. It will also be understood, in accordance with basic and well known optical relationships, that:

S l =focal length (magnification l and S2 =focal length l/magnification l It can also now be appreciated that the total of SI and S2 can be substantially reduced since the focal length of the lenses employed can be much smaller in the apparatus of the invention than is necessary in conventional apparatus and due to the fact that relatively small zones are being photographed.

FIG. 3 next illustrates a record. This record will be, for example, a transparent of light-permeable film such as, for example, may be constituted by a photographic negative. The record is indicated at 28 and is understood to comprise a plurality of zones as delineated by lines 30. These lines do not exist, in fact, and are imaginary. The zones correspond in number to the number of lens elements 24 in FIG. 1. The reproduction of the zones Al, A2, A3, A4 An are indicated in FIG. 3 as being located in the upper left hand corner of the zones formed by lines 30. Each of the dots or zones Al, A2, A3, A4 An in FIG. 3 represents the photographically reduced and reproduced counterparts of the corresponding but larger zones of FIG. I. They are reduced in size because of an optically reproducing and reduction system employed in photographic the zones of FIG. 1 and they are regularly spaced in a grid-like arrangement because the lenses 24 of FIG. 1 are thus arranged. The dots are positioned in the upper left hand corner of each of the respective zones in FIG. 3 because they constitute the first of a series of images which will be sequentially reproduced on the record of FIG. 3 in a sequential pattern as appears in FIG. 4, wherein a second sequence of reduced zones is indicated at B1, B2, B3, B4 Bn. This second gridlike arrangement of dots B1, B2, B3, B4 Bn corresponds to the zones of a second image which has been recorded on record 28 and the B zone: can be cooperatively employed to reconstitute a second image by proper projection techniques.

FIG. 5 illustrates a single zone 32 corresponding to the zone 32 at the upper left hand corner of the record as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. In FIG. 5 it will be seen that there are a multitude of reduced zones A1, B1, C1, D1, E1 and so on, these being arranged at a plurality of X and Y coordinates to form a grid-like arrangement within the zone 32. Reduced zone AI will normally have nothing to do with the intelligence contained in reduced zone B1 which will have nothing to do with the intelligence in reduced zone C1 and so on. However, reduced A1 in connection with reduced zone A2 in connection with further A zones can be cooperatively employed to reproduce the corresponding A image as aforesaid while the groups of reduced zones designated by reference B can be used to reproduce the B image with the C and D reduced zones being available to reproduce the corresponding images and so forth. It should be noted that although the zones are shown as being square, any close packing geometrical form can be employed.

Reproduction is effected simply by reversing the photographic reproduction and reduction procedure and this is clearly facilitated in accordance with the invention by employing the same lens arrangement for recording and for reproduction. In other words, an image will be broken down into the various zones which are optically reduced and photographically recorded by the very same lens arrangement through which the resulting photographic negative will be subsequently projected. This avoids any major problem in photographic reproduction and projection and insures that a suitable reproduction can be effected.

FIG. 6 diagrammatically illustrates the technique by which a plurality of images can be recorded on a record in accordance with the invention. At 34 is indicated a document, or rather a position at which a plurality of documents or other such images will be located in sequence to effect a reduction and recording operation. At 36 is indicated by way of example a photo graphic negative upon which the reduced zones of an image at 34 will be recorded. The lenses are again indicated at 24. They are arranged in a grid-like pattern as aforesaid.

A number of arrangements providing for different types of relative movement are possible. One such arrangement is illustrated in accordance with which the positions of the lenses are fixed and the position 34 is fixed. In this technique or method the record 36 is displaced first for purposes of recording a sequence of images and secondly for selectively projecting or reproducing the thusly recorded images.

Let it be assumed, for example, that a document to be recorded is positioned as indicated at 34. Recorded 36 is then located as illustrated. A photographing operation is then effected through lenses 24 and a plurality of reduced zones are photographedonto record 36. The thusly recorded document is removed from position 34 and a second document or the like is substituted therefor. Record 36 is moved in one or both of the directions indicated by arrows X and Y corresponding to X and Y coordinates. When this movement is completed, a second photographing and reduction operation is effected through lenses 24 and as a result a second image in the form of a multitude of reduced zones is recorded on record 36. These two photographing operations produce the A and B zones in FIGS. 3 and 4.

It will now be understood that a multitude of such recording operations can be effected to fill the various zones on the record as for example as indicated by FIG. 5.

After recording is completed, the photographic negative or record 36 is'developed in conventional manner and the resulting product can be stored indefinitely until the time arrives at which one or more of the images thereon is to be reproduced. Any technique can be employed whereby there is produced a photographic record or its equivalent. Any image can be reproduced simply by replacing the thusly produced product under the array of lenses 24, aligning the corresponding group of reduced zones under said lenses and projecting the reduced zones through the lenses 24 onto an appropriate screen. This screen should be located at the object plane, or in other words, at or approximately at the position of the original document which was previously photographed. This constitutes no problem since when the document is photographed, it can be supported on a transparent platen for which the screen can be later substituted or on which the screen can be subsequently placed for purposes of reproduction.

An apparatus for performing the recording and reproduction functions noted above is indicated at 38 in FIG. 7. Therein is shown a transparent platen 40 upon which the document or the like may be positioned for purposes of recording and for which screen is subsequently substituted or on which such screen can be subsequently placed for reconstituting the thusly recorded image. A hood 42 is provided for light-shielding purposes with respect to reproducing the image. A mirror 43 is mounted on hood 42 for use when it is desired to invert the reconstituted image. A switch 44 is employed to control the turning on of the device as well as the selection of a recording or reproducing mode. A pushbutton switch 46 is, moreover, employed to initiate the photographing operation.

In addition to the aforesaid components, there are provided controls 48 and 50. These controls, as will be shown in greater detail hereinafter, control the alignment of the record unit with respect to X and Y coordinates which in turn relate to selective image recording and reproduction in the manner noted hereinabove. As will be seen hereinafter, a further control is provided which enables an additional adjustment of the recording unit with respect to polar coordinates, this providing for movement of the record about an axis which is perpendicular to the plane established by such X and Y coordinates.

record in a light-tight compartment as is required for photographic operations.

FIG. 7. Attention is directed firstly to record support 56. This support includes a bottom bar 58 and an upper bar 60, the pair of bars 58 and 60 being rotatable on a pin 62.

The bar 60 has affixed thereto a clamp 64 pivotally mounted on a pin 66 and being displaceable so that the upper bar can be pivotally displaced from bar 58. This permits the insertion of a record which will be in the form of a photographic negative. The clamp 64 can be engaged around the lower bar 58 to clamp the record between these two bars and hold the record unit in position.

Bars 58 and 60 can be moved in X and Y directions under the control of the knobs indicated in FIG. 7. These knobs control the rotation of cams 68 and 70 which in turn control the movement of spring loaded pushers 72 and 74. The pushers operate against an arm 76 attached to support 56 to control the movement of the same.

Support 56 has connected thereto a plurality of connecting members, pairs of links 78 and 80 and 82 and 84. It is the function of these pairs of links to insure that support unit 56 maintains a constant attitude except as provided for by control 86.

Control 86 provides for the application of lateral force against support unit 56 whereby the same can be pivoted about pin 62 mentioned hereinabove.

From the above description it will be understood that a flat, preferably square or rectangular photographic film or plate can be clamped between bars 58 and 60 of support unit 56, whereupon the film or'plate will be held in horizontal attitude. It will also be understood that this record can be shifted in X or Y direction by means of earns 68 and 70 operating through corresponding pushers 72 and 74. It will be further understood'that the attitude of the record relative to an axis passing perpendicularly through the record can be adjusted by control 86. Normally, under usual conditions adjustment of the record will be effected only between the recording of sequential images of respective documents or for reproduction of the same.

Recording is effected by the use of shutter 88 having therein a plurality of slots 90. Recording is also effected with the use of a plurality of lamps 92, 94, 96 and 98. Beneath shutters 88 is a lens arrangement 100, the details of which will be discussed at greater length hereinafter. It is sufficient at this time to note that lens arrangement 100 provides the grid-like arrangement of lens elements 24 noted hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 1-6.

The operation of shutter 88 is controlled by solenoid 102 having an armature 104 driving a link 106 pivotally supported by pin 108 on a bracket 110. A second idler link 1 12 is also connected to the shutter 88, these two links 106 and 112 having a parallel relationship and a connection with the shutter 88 to permit displacement of the shutter only through a plurality of successive positions of constant attitude.

Solenoid 102 is operated under the control of switch 46 of FIG. 7 through circuits which are not shown and do-not form an'essential part of the present invention. When the switch 46 is operated, solenoid 102 is triggered and the shutter is depressed first in one direction and then in opposite direction as indicated by arrow 114. This brings slots 90 into registration with the lenses thus exposing the record positioned below the shutter to efiect a photographing operation whereafter the slots are displaced away from the lenses thereby recapping the latter. This is of course analogous to a conventional photographing operation in which a shutter selectively unmasks a lens to permit an exposure of a photographic film.

At the same time that-the shutter is displaced by operation of switch 46, lamps 92-98 are connected to a source of power for illuminating the object to be photographed. Selective operation of lamps 92-98 is employed to extend the life thereof and to minimize the amount of heat generated within theunit. If desired, the operation of these lampscan be separated from the operation of the solenoid and the lamps maybe illuminated continuously through a succession of recording operations.

Assuming the photographing of a single object through the plurality of lenses 24 the thusly recorded object is removed from itsposition and replaced by a subsequent object. Cams 68 and are operated to change the position of the record and the apparatus is ready to photograph the next object.

After all of the objects have been photographed which are desired to be photographed, the record can be removed and developed. There. will then result a negative which is suitable for reproducing the original images by the use of the same apparatus. For this purpose, the thusly developed negative will be inserted between bars 58 and 60 of the support unit 56 and adjustment made of cams 68 and 70 to bring the necessary zones in registration with lenses 24.

For projection purposes there is provided a lamp 116 located in a reflector 118 with which is associated a cooling fan 120. Light from lamp 116 is transmitted through an optical fiber bundle 122 to a position adjacent the lens arrangement mentioned hereinabove and is thence broken up and conducted to positions for projection through the lenses 24 as will be shown in greater detail hereinafter. Selection of this, projection mode is controlled by the switch 44 of FIG. 7 through appropriate circuits (not shown), the details of which do not constitute a part of this invention. It is, however, necessary to understand that for the projection mode the shutter 88 is triggered to open position by operation of solenoid 102 so that light can be continuously transmitted through the record and through the lenses 24 to reconstitute the original image as aforesaid.

FIG. 13 illustrates the shutter 88 isolated from the rest of the unit. Therein it can be seen that the shutter includes ears 124 and 126 provided with holes 128 and 130 by means of which the shutter 88 is pivotally connected to the'pair of links described hereinabove with respect to FIGS. 8-12. In FIG. 13 it can be more clearly seen that the shutter consists of a plurality of regularly spaced slots which are of equal width and length and which are capable of alignment with corresponding arrays of lenses 24 in the associated lens arrangement.

The shutter can be fabricated, for example, of aluminum and may preferably have its upper surface painted white in order to reflect a larger portion of the light generated by the associated recording lamps onto the object which is to be photographed and in order also to minimize the amount of heat transferred through the shutter into the lens arrangement.

It should be noted that the shutter is a flat and planar member which, for example, can be manufactured of a 0.040 inch stock and that this shutter is preferably a lightweight element constituting a minimal load on the associated solenoid.

FIG. 14 illustrates the above noted optical system 122 which is used for purposes of conducting light from the projection lamp to the various lenses in order to project the reduced zones in the reconstituting of a previously recorded image. The component 122 in the vicinity of the lens arrangement 100 is broken down into a plurality of elements, one of which is indicated at 132. Each of these elements 132 terminates in a face 134 which is adjacent a selected one of the lenses or lens elements 24. The composition of the optical fiber bundle is well known and requires no detailed explanation in this text since such optical elements are commercially available. In one particular embodiment of the present invention the individual fibers in the optical fiber bundle were 0.001 inch in diameter, these fibers being bonded by an epoxy heat resistant to 350 F. at the common ends thereof.

FIG. 15 illustrates one of the cam elements 68 or 70, these elements being identical in construction and providing a gradual rise from section 134 to section 136, this rise being rectilinear and regular in respect of the associated coordinate.

This cam can be fabricated, for example, of stainless steel, having an illustrative thickness of 0.25 inch. The cam is mounted on a corresponding shaft by means of a collar 138 attached to the cam.

An important feature of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 16-18, wherein appears the lens assembly 100. As shown by the shading appearing, for example, at 140, the lens assembly provides a multitude of lens arrangements, the major portion of which is masked whereby there is exposed only a grid-like element of regularly spaced elements of like optical characteristics.

The lens elements are, in accordance with the invention, formed by two parallel lenticular screens 142 and 144 consisting of a plurality of cylindrical lenses. Whereas the screens 142 and 144 are in parallel planes, the lenses of one screen are arranged perpendicular to the lenses on the other screen. At the intersection of these lenses there effectively results a multitude of lens elements, the majority of which are masked as aforesaid to give the desired pattern of useful lens elements. In accomplishing this, there-are employed three masks 146, 148 and 150. Mask 146 is located between screens 142 and 144 to form a lens assembly on the opposite sides of which are located masks 148 and 150, which rest on glass bodies 152 and 154 to which screens 142 and 144 are bonded by a suitable transparent epoxy.

Masks 146, 148 and 150 are provided with correspondingly positioned apertures which control and define the arrangement of lens elements which are used in effecting recording and reproducing operations.

The apertures in the center and one of the outer masks can be circular. The apertures in the remaining mask should correspond to the shape desired for the reduced record zones and normally this shape will be square or right quadrilateral.

The mask 150 is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 19. It is a copper sheet having a plurality of apertures 156. These are square in shape to provide for the recording of square zones on the associated photographic film. It is to be noted that since the mask is to be positioned adjacent the photographic film, the outer surface thereof will be perfectly smooth in order that the emulsion side of the film can be placed against the mask without fear of scratching the film or causing other injury thereto.

Returning next and briefly to FIGS. l6-18, it is seen that around the edge of the lens arrangement there is provided an edging 158 to which is connected a mounting flange 160, the latter having the purpose of providing for installation of the lens arrangement in an appropriate support in the unit.

In the aforesaid equipment, a wide variety of operational paramaters is permissible. A typical but nonlimitative example is constituted by reducing inch square zones of an object to H152 inch on the photographic image. This is a 20:1 reduction which can be maintained despite the size of the objects to be photographed simply by adding additional lenses. By using a zonal reduction, the magnification is always maintained constant which permits keeping the same minimal focal length which in turn permits keeping the size of the unit at a minimum.

2 to 10,000 images can be recorded on a single record by making adjustments in the size of the apparatus, but a more practical range to realize the greater benefits of size of the invention is constituted by 200 to 2,000 images per record.

There is no limitation to packing density of the dots in the recording technique of the invention other than for lens and recording media resolution limits and the only practical consideration is reconciling the packing density to the height of the unit.

In order to provide for tolerances in the accuracy of the X and Y coordinate control there should be provided a small spacing between recorded zones although in a dimensionally perfect unit this would not be necessary. Thus, for example, a spacing of 0.0001 inch between recorded reduced zones can be employed to compensate for working tolerances in the X and Y control mechanism.

Although reproduction is provided by the use of a diffuser screen at the object plane, it is also possible to provide for an auxiliary printer in the form of a contact printer or a camera, or the like. This has not been illustrated in view of the fact that the form thereof can be readily derived in view of the foregoing description.

From the above it will be seen that the invention comprises the steps of optically reducing each of a plurality of zones constituting an image and recording the thusly reduced zone for subsequent production, the images being reconstituted by reversing the reducing step. It will also be seen that the thusly reduced zones are photographically recorded in a grid-like pattern of regularly spaced positions. Moreover, it has been shown that zones of a plurality of images can be interspersed with one another.

In the above, the lenses may have overlapping fields of view. This overlapping insures against loss of information along the boundary lines of the zones and makes the mechanical criteria less critical. It should also be noted that an intervening optical system can be interposed between an object the image of which is to be recorded and the multiple lens system described above for either magnification or reduction.

FIG. illustrates a modification of the invention in accordance with which a lens 170 is employed to optically reduce an object 172 having a size A X B to an image 174 on a ground glass or suitable field lens system having a size A/m X B/m. This reduced image then becomes the object of the zonal reduction system including the lens array 175 which records the image as a plurality of small areas on record 176 as aforesaid.

In the above description, the small areas have been generally considered as being of right parallelepiped fonn. Actually the form is not so limited, and for example, any form admitting of a nesting compactable relationship is useful as shown in FIGS. 21(a) (c).

From the above it will be likewise understood that a product of the invention is a photographically reproduceable record of a plurality of images comprising a light-permeable sheet having thereon for each said image a grid-like arrangement of spaced image zones, cooperatively adapted to constitute the corresponding image, the arrangements being identical in spacing of the zones and being interspersed with each other.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising first means for optically dividing a stationary image into a plurality of spaced zones each constituting a replica of a part of said image and each being reduced in size from the corresponding part of said image, and second means for enabling the recording of said zones whereby there is obtained a record of the thusly reduced zones, the first means including two parallel lenticular screens including respective pluralities of cylindrical lenses perpendicularly related to form a plurality of lens elements, a mask to conceal a major portion of said plurality of lens elements and to leave unmasked a grid-like pattern of said lens elements corresponding to said zones, and two masks in addition to the first said mask, one of the three said masks being sandwiched between said screens to form a lens assembly and the other two masks being on opposite sides of said assembly, the lenses all being provided with positionally corresponding and regularly spaced apertures corresponding to said zones, the apertures of one of said other masks corresponding in shape to said zones.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising projection means for optically projecting the said record through the first said means to reconstitute said image in the original size and form thereof.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said projection means includes a light source adapted to project light through each said lens elements.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said projection means includes an optical fiber bundle including fiber elements respectively associated with said lens elements.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises'a photographic film support and positioning means to displace said support in angulary related directions for exposing different portions of the film.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes means to rotatably adjust said support about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by said directions.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shutter for selectively and simultaneously exposing said lens elements.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a solenoid for operating said shutter, light source means for illuminating said image, and control means for concomitantly operating the solenoid and light source means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are right parellepiped.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are polygonal.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are of nesting shape.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further compris ing magnifying means operatively associated with said plurality of lens elements. 

1. Apparatus comprising first means for optically dividing a stationaRy image into a plurality of spaced zones each constituting a replica of a part of said image and each being reduced in size from the corresponding part of said image, and second means for enabling the recording of said zones whereby there is obtained a record of the thusly reduced zones, the first means including two parallel lenticular screens including respective pluralities of cylindrical lenses perpendicularly related to form a plurality of lens elements, a mask to conceal a major portion of said plurality of lens elements and to leave unmasked a grid-like pattern of said lens elements corresponding to said zones, and two masks in addition to the first said mask, one of the three said masks being sandwiched between said screens to form a lens assembly and the other two masks being on opposite sides of said assembly, the lenses all being provided with positionally corresponding and regularly spaced apertures corresponding to said zones, the apertures of one of said other masks corresponding in shape to said zones.
 2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising projection means for optically projecting the said record through the first said means to reconstitute said image in the original size and form thereof.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said projection means includes a light source adapted to project light through each said lens elements.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said projection means includes an optical fiber bundle including fiber elements respectively associated with said lens elements.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means comprises a photographic film support and positioning means to displace said support in angulary related directions for exposing different portions of the film.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes means to rotatably adjust said support about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by said directions.
 7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a shutter for selectively and simultaneously exposing said lens elements.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a solenoid for operating said shutter, light source means for illuminating said image, and control means for concomitantly operating the solenoid and light source means.
 9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are right parellepiped.
 10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are polygonal.
 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the zones are of nesting shape.
 12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising magnifying means operatively associated with said plurality of lens elements. 